Know How: 5 Easy Home Gallery Wall Ideas

Display your treasured art and objects with a visually striking home gallery wall.
Get inventive and consider our five practical tips.

Imaginative homeowners have evolved the classic gallery wall into a menagerie of art, houseplants and favourite objects. For those spending more time at home, displaying our cherished pictures and belongings creates a visual feast without much effort. Further, eye-catching and affordable, a home gallery wall is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your style.

Image Credit: Jon Bond photography and courtesy of Wicklewood.

Tip 1. Best height for hanging a gallery wall above a sofa?

Firstly, before you start measuring, choose the hero piece you want to anchor your gallery wall around. In a living room, sofas tend to be the largest piece and thus make for a great focal point.

As a guide, the rule for hanging your art is 6 to 12 inches above the top of the furniture. However, with gallery walls becoming increasingly eclectic, the focus should be on what’s visually pleasing, rather than following exact measurements.

 “It’s incredibly personal and depends on what you are displaying,” shares Laura Barnard, Buying and Merchandising Manager for Arlo & Jacob. “Start with the standard 6 inches but then personalise towards your taste and the visual balance between the sofa and your art."

Featured above is the home of leading artist Sophie Derrick from @not_a_boring_new_build who combined her own art with other contemporary works.

Tip 2. How can I plan my gallery wall and visualise it?

A passionate collector, Laura advises laying everything out first before sticking up shelves or hammering nails into a wall. She is an advocate of “organise your pictures on the floor, to begin with, because you can see roughly how it will arrange together."

Laura also advises using the whole scale of the room. "You can display things above the door frame and don’t be afraid to hang your art all the way to the ceiling."

Pictured above is the talented @studiomilne who makes a moody statement with their interior scheme and layered gallery wall.

Tip 3. How often can I change a gallery?

“It’s about seasonality, and you could change your gallery to reflect the season," shares Laura. "For example, right now, an Autumnal wreath could feature on your wall, and it’s about reflecting nature in your home, and it is still art."

Laura advises to change your gallery and keep it seasonally refreshed: "Keep your gallery looking fresh by incorporating different things that reflect the season."

Change the mood of your living room with a variety of wall art. Our Crawford modular looks like a piece of pop art next to the gallery wall.

Tip 4. How to display your beloved treasures with valuable art?

Mix up different eras and also layer precious art with kitsch and cherished items. "It’s about paying attention to your needs and responding to it and so if that’s what you want to do then go for it," shares Laura about the eclectic spirit of creating a  home gallery wall.

Surround yourself with beautiful things and make it personal. "Art can be seen as much as objects as is its plants, ceramics or a print by David Hockney. It’s the duality that a gallery can feel comfortable but also inspiring."

Featured above is the incredible home of styling virtuoso @placefortyeight. Our Louis sofa feels at home with her gallery display of unique finds.

Tip 5. What art and objects work best and how do I start curating

"Layering is essential, and that’s what is driving the gallery wall trend," says Laura. " Think beyond the conventional painting and print combination and start to introduce mixed media."

"That’s what makes it beautiful is that layering of materials," she adds. "Don’t think about your gallery as purely hanging pictures; it’s a personal journey and about sharing your story. Yours can encompass ceramics, toys or a mix of art, books and paraphernalia."

The influential stylist Charlotte Page @stylingyourhome  and Interiors Coordinator for You Magazine is a master of displaying art and mixing it with patterns and personal objects. Photo credit Tobi Jenkins.